Change is a constant in public sector work, so ensure you understand how it affects your field, be upfront about risk, and don't ignore the small opportunities. Former secretary Greg Wilson's career tips for adaptation.
The public and private sectors have different cultures, so staff with experience of both is invaluable. Plus the skills early career public servants should be developing.
Journey to Social Inclusion "works to end homelessness, rather than simply managing it". There are now hopes to expand it across Australia.
What is the appropriate level of the use of consultants in the public service? Has it gone too far? Are consultants doing too much core/routine work or are they providing a vital service?
Melbourne's western suburbs suffer persistently high youth unemployment. One program is rethinking the problem through codesign and place-based interventions.
World War II and 9/11 led to permanent social shifts. The coronavirus will too, says the man who led Victoria through Black Saturday.
Many policy wonks believe renationalisation is simply not feasible, but new research shows it's been happening for a long time. How can it be done well?
The NSW Premier's Priorities have led to improvements on difficult social problems and encouraged more collaboration in the public sector, believes William Murphy, who previously oversaw the program.
It's not enough to keep having "the same old conversations", argues new Victorian EPA Chair Kate Auty. For her, improving diversity and community engagement has meant talking to sports fans about climate change, convincing local communities about Aboriginal sentencing courts, and boosting the readership of environmental reports.
Would you accept that there is no such thing as a perfect public policy — or, if not, would you agree with the contention that the perfect can sometimes be the enemy of the good?
Know your customer, have a clear idea of what 'good service' means, and engage meaningfully. Department of Customer Service Deputy Secretary William Murphy discusses what NSW is doing to improve services for citizens.
Regulators need to be independent, but what does this mean in practice? Peter Shergold and Graeme Samuel recently offered their thoughts to the ANZSOG regulators' community of practice.
This article is part of the COVID-19 in Australia infograms collection.
We're more likely to support a policy knowing it's endorsed by experts. Even US Republicans will support action on climate change when told the Pentagon is worried about it.
Public engagement is a great way to access expertise held by the community, but is often frustrating for participants — especially those from diverse communities. Consider whether you're really empowering people, says Maria Katsonis.
